ABOUT
THE AFRICAN PHARMACEUTICAL DISTRIBUTION ASSOCIATION.
APDA unites national pharmaceutical distribution associations across Africa to safeguard medicine supply, combat falsified drugs, and professionalise the distribution sector — from factory to pharmacy.
MISSION & VISION
A CONTINENT WHERE EVERY PATIENT HAS ACCESS TO QUALITY- ASSURED MEDICINES.
The African Pharmaceutical Distribution Association (APDA) was founded in 2016 as a continental federation of national pharmaceutical wholesaler and distributor associations. Today, APDA represents over 30 member associations from every region of Africa — from the Maghreb to the Cape.
Our mission is simple and urgent: to ensure that every medicine reaching a patient in Africa has travelled through a professional, secure and traceable distribution channel. We do this by uniting distributors behind common standards, by partnering with regulators to enforce quality, and by advocating for policies that strengthen supply chains rather than fragment them.
The Thematic General Assembly is our flagship annual convening. Each assembly rotates between African capitals and focuses on a strategic priority aligned with continental health goals. Lagos 2026 places secure supply chains and the fight against falsified medicines at the centre of the agenda.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
WHAT APDA WORKS ON, EVERY DAY.
Combat falsified medicines
Drive adoption of track-and-trace systems, serialisation standards and regulatory enforcement tools that protect patients from counterfeit drugs.
Harmonise regulation
Work with national medicines regulatory authorities to align standards, streamline cross-border documentation and reduce trade friction.
Build capacity
Deliver training, certification and peer-learning programmes that professionalise distributors and raise operational standards continent-wide.
Foster partnership
Bridge distributors, manufacturers, regulators, insurers and technology providers to build resilient, end-to-end supply chains.
OUR HISTORY
FROM FORMATION TO LAGOS 2026.
FORMATION
APDA founded by a coalition of national pharmaceutical distribution associations across West, East and Southern Africa.
LUSAKA
Inaugural Thematic General Assembly held in Zambia. 180 delegates from 12 countries convened to establish APDA's strategic framework.
ACCRA
Second assembly focused on regulatory harmonisation. Ghana's FDA and NAFDAC co-hosted a landmark technical session on cross-border quality standards.
CASABLANCA
Special session on North-Sub-Saharan collaboration. Morocco's AMIP became the first North African member association.
CONTINENTAL EXPANSION
Virtual working groups sustained momentum through the pandemic. Membership grew to 30+ national associations.
STRATEGIC PLAN
APDA launched its 2025–2030 Strategic Plan with three pillars: Professionalisation, Security and Partnership.
LAGOS
4th APDA Thematic General Assembly — the largest and most consequential convening yet, hosted by PWDAN in Nigeria.
HOST ASSOCIATION
PWDAN.
Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Distributors Association of Nigeria
PWDAN is the largest and most established national pharmaceutical distribution association in Africa. Founded over four decades ago, it represents more than 1,000 licensed wholesale and distribution firms operating across all 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory.
PWDAN's members are the backbone of Nigeria's medicine supply chain. They handle the bulk of essential medicines, vaccines, and medical supplies that flow from manufacturers — both local and international — to hospitals, pharmacies, clinics, and community health centres.
The association works closely with NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control), the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), and the Federal Ministry of Health to enforce quality standards, professionalise distribution practice, and protect Nigerian patients from the threat of counterfeit and substandard medicines.
GOVERNANCE
LEADERSHIP.
OGHENEOCHUKO OMARUAYE
PRESIDENT
PWDAN, Nigeria
Company: CEO, New Heights Pharmaceuticals Ltd
UKAGHA IGWE
VICE CHAIRMAN OF PWDAN
PWDAN, Nigeria
Company: Famatex pharmaceuticals Ltd
OLAIDE SOETAN
SECRETARY
PWDAN, Nigeria
Company: NHC pharmaceuticals Ltd
MEMBERSHIP
National associations from across Africa.
BE PART OF THE STORY.
Join 500+ delegates from 30+ countries at the 4th APDA Thematic General Assembly in Lagos.